INTERVIEW TIPS
- Know where you are going?
- Know the names of the people you are seeing?
- Know about the company and what it makes or does?
- Have the job description – What skills/qualities/experience do you have to match?
- Dress code - Look the part, and you will feel it.
- Think about what you want from a job and tell them.
Remember – employers buy experience. Think about what achievements you can talk about in an
interview; rehearse your success stories.
Remember – there is a job out there for you.
Preparation
Prepare yourself, interviews are two-way meetings.
Interviews are an opportunity for the interviewer to find out about you and if you are suitable. It is also an opportunity for you to find out about the organisation, the position and if it will provide you with the challenge and job satisfaction you are looking for.
Think about your skills, qualifications and experience to ensure that you can talk confidently about what is written on your CV. Prepare some questions to ask at the interview. In the first interview restrict your questions to the details of the job and the organisation. Salary and benefit can be discussed in the second interview or when a job offer is made.
Do your homework
Find out as much as possible about the company prior to the interview. Start with their web site and find out about the products and services they offer, the location of the office(s), and the number of employees. Ask us if you want any extra information on them.
Dress Code and Appearance
For office work, smart business dress is a must. Ensure you are well groomed with tidy hair, clean shoes and clothing. Do not wear too much perfume or aftershave and keep makeup, jewellery and nail polish simple.
Travel and Timing
Plan your journey beforehand to ensure you arrive a few minutes early. Allow for possible travel delays. Just in case of a major hold-up, make sure you have our telephone number so that you can call if us you suspect you will be late.
You can’t prepare for every question that will come up at interview, but you can anticipate some of them. Here are some questions and how to handle them:
- “Tell us about yourself”: Plan ahead by having a statement ready.
- “Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?”: Talk about career plans, and what you want to learn and achieve in the future.
- “Why do you want this job?”: Have a clear answer to this.
- “Why did you leave…?”: Employers will probe for reasons for job change or being out of work. Have short, simple answers and a positive summary.
- “How do you cope in a crisis?”: Have good examples of past triumphs up your sleeve.
- “How will you…?”: These questions are beginning to create a future, which includes you - so welcome them. Describe what you would do within the organisation as if you were there already. Create the right picture, and the employer won’t be able to imagine a future without you.
- “What are your weaknesses?”: Talk about weaknesses that are also strengths, e.g. being demanding of your team, being a perfectionist, pushing hard to get things done.
The Interview
What to Expect
Interviews come in many forms - panel interviews, one-to-one interviews, group interviews etc. You may be asked to take a test before the interview, depending on the type of organisation.
There are many different interview styles and each interviewer will have their own personal style. Some interviewers will fire questions at you while others will start off with an open question such as “tell me about yourself” leaving you to do most of the talking. The majority of interviews will be somewhere between the two. Be prepared for any style of interview.
Two-way Communication
- Make sure the employer knows the benefits of employing you. It is important to give the employer details of your relevant skills and experience that you have to contribute to the organisation.
- Try not to monopolise the meeting - let your interviewer talk.
- Show them how you meet the key parts of the job specification.
- Ask how the job contributes to the success, efficiency and profitability of the organisation.
- Show how you have done some research.
- Don’t give negative information or bad news if you are not asked for it and don’t criticise previous employers or jobs. The key is to turn negative information into positive information.
The next steps - Agree what the next steps will be, such as who will contact you to let you know if you have been successful and by when. You should also find out whether there will be second interviews and who will conduct them. If you are really interested in the position make sure you tell the interviewer.
After the Interview
Tell your consultant at Neaves & Neat how the interview went and get feedback from them.
Negotiation
Everything is negotiable. If the final offer is not what you had hoped for, ask the consultant to talk to the client. Say that you like the job but the package is not up to your expectations and ask if the company can be at all flexible. |
